| A PACS RIS system is an electronic medical | | | | images from various modalities, such as |
| information system. Although it previously was | | | | mammographies, MRIs and CTs, and then take |
| only available to the largest hospitals due to the | | | | those digital images and view them on a |
| high cost, today PACS RIS is quite affordable for | | | | workstation, store them in archives and transmit |
| small and mid-sized medical facilities due to | | | | them via a secure network. PACS RIS also come |
| improved technology and reduced price of all | | | | as mini-PACS and web-based PACS. Mini-PACS |
| electronics, especially computer systems. | | | | are an extremely focused type of PACS system |
| To begin, PACS RIS are two separate but related | | | | that allows you to use images taken from one |
| features. PACS stands for Picture Archiving and | | | | type of modality, rather than multiple modalities |
| Communication System, while RIS means | | | | as can be done on a full PACS system, and then |
| Radiology Information System. PACS has to do | | | | manipulate them on a workstation. A web-based |
| with digital medical imaging, and it is a software | | | | PACS is a system that allows you to send and |
| and hardware system that allows medical facilities | | | | receive digital medical images and other data over |
| to store, view, retrieve, send and receive digital | | | | the Internet. They use secure transmissions over |
| medical images from a computer. RIS is a | | | | virtual private networks or secure socket layer. |
| software database that enables radiology | | | | The web-based aspect of the PACS has changed |
| departments to archive and distribute both digital | | | | how medical offices function, because now it is a |
| medical images as well as other types of data | | | | simple matter to remotely work nearly anywhere |
| such as patient scheduling, tracking and reporting. | | | | in the world due to the use of the World Wide |
| When used together, they greatly improve the | | | | Web, and this also allows for improved |
| workflow for any radiology department in a small | | | | consultations with physicians located down the hall |
| or large medical facility. | | | | or across the world from you. |
| A PACS server allows medical personnel to obtain | | | | |